GET increase

[kalakoa]

Predictably:

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news...e-proposed

The state's four mayors asked the state to allow the one-half cent to make up for cutbacks in the counties' share of the transient accommodations tax, paid by guests at hotels and part-time renters.

Supposedly the GET increase will be earmarked:

The added tax must be used for transportation projects

Wouldn't it be easier to raise the fuel tax, which is already (supposed to be) spent exclusively on transportation? Gas prices are down, and Hawaii County has the lowest fuel tax in the State, so if ever there was a "good" time for a tax increase...

As with most special taxes, it's important the additional money be used to enhance the services it's earmarked for, rather than replace money already budgeted for those services

This is actually the biggest problem: State "manages" tax revenue on our behalf, so they can play games with the budget, something the legislature is famous for (well-documented at least as far back as Land & Power). I doubt we'll see much revenue from a GET increase, but I'll bet we lose a few more small businesses.

[VancouverIslander]

As a landlord, I'll grumble about it, but it'll hardly break me. I'll likely just eat the $3/month tax increase. I suspect many businesses will just pass another 1/2 percent along to consumers. Of course, the proposed tax hikes would have to be passed first.

Just call me Mike

[kalakoa]

Well, at least we know what kinds of plans they have for our tax money.

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/news/stat...l-building

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Dancing fountains?
The pond has had problems over the years with algae buildup because the water does not circulate.

Maybe they have finally heard about Dengue over at the capitol.

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard

[kalakoa]

From the fine article:

The state said it spends $68,000 a year on cleaning services.

"They're talking about $15 million and I said, we can spend less than that," Cachola said.

Let's say half, and further assume zero maintenance required:

7500000 / 68000 = about 110 years.

Lucky we live Hawaii.

[pahoated]

The irony of the GET is that it was put into law in the 30's for the Hawaii territory by haole plantation owners to prevent Chinese and Japanese plantation workers from establishing their own small businesses and leaving the plantation. In the 30's, this island was all plantations with plantation housing, plantation electric power, plantation dry goods stores. The history of Hawaii is the history of how frustrated the haole transplant plantation owners with their efforts to find somebody to do their work for them.

The GET is still doing what it was originally intended to do, make small business a very difficult and risky investment to be setting off on. Weird how the Hawaii governors and legislature are still being self guided by territorial laws, apparently afraid the plantation owner is going show up with a whip any time.

"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"

[VancouverIslander]

How about they solve their fountain problem by adding more pumps and filters (nice pool style sand filters so you just back flush them to clean them out) Keep the water circulating and filter out what you don't want.

Just call me Mike